Door closure for railway cars



May 17 1927.

1,628,920 E. M. sl-:NFTLE ET Al.

Doon CLQSURE FOR RAILWAY czms Filed May 2l, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ay 2 K E. M. sENFTLE ET'AL DOOR CLOSURE FOR RAILWAYY CARS Filed May 21. 1925 l z sheets-sheet 2 Y IZ l v l2 41 E?? f 49 W, /ya- 1 le? s .Il u i r* 4g i @s l Patented May 17, 1927;

UNITED STATES misere PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD M. SENFTLE ANI) FRANK ECKERT, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

DOOR CLOSURE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Application filed May 21, 1925. Serial No. 31,748.l

This invention relates to a door closure for railway cars and more particularly to a railway car which is intended to carry grain or other loose or bulk freight aswell as package freight and similar goods which do not'have a flowing action.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a door closure for this purpose which will permit of tightly closing the doorway so as to positively prevent leakage of grain or similar materials through the doorway.

Another' object of this invention is to so construct the closure that the same does not obstruct the interior of the car body and thereby permits of utilizing the maximum carrying capacity of the same. AV further object of this invention is to so mount the door on the carbody that the door can be passed inwardly and outwardly through-the doorway and permit of utilizing the samel either on the inside of the car or on the outer side of the same in accordance with the character of the freight which is being carried.

A still further object/of thisrinventvion is to so design the closure that the doorway can be either completely closed, or the same may be opened more or less at the top for filling the interior of the car body withpgrain or similar material, o r the lower end of the doorway may be opened more or less for the purpose of discharging the cargo of grain or similar material therefrom. Y

Additional objects of this invention are to so organize this closure and the means of movably mounting the same on the car body that the operation of'opening andY closing the doorway can be effected easily and conveniently and also permit of manufacturing the same at a cost which will make the same commercially practical. i

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one side of a box car showing the same equipped with our improved doorway closure and showing the parts in position in which the doorway is closed completely.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken'on line-22, Fig. 4, but showing the door in a position in which the same is being passed through the doorway. i

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sect-ion taken on the correspondingly numbered line in Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showingr the upper section of the door'lowered for the Vpurpose of providing` ventilation'in the interior of the car or permitting grain'or similar material to be loaded into the same. Y

Fig. is a similar view showing the lower section of the door raisedfor the purpose of opening the lower end of the doorway and permitting the escape of grain or similar free fiowing material from the interior of the car body. A f

Fig. 6 is ,a horizontal section taken on line 6 6. Fig. 4, and sho-wing the door in its operative posit-ion across theinner side of the doorway.

Fig. 7 is a similar view but showing the door moved to the outer side of the car and shifted to one sideof the doorway for the purposeof leaving the latter entirely unobstructed and enabling the` car to kbe freely loaded and unloaded.v y'

Fig. 8 is aA fragmentary horizontall section, on an enlarged scale taken on line 8 8, Fig. 3. 4

Fig. 9is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section-taken on line 9-9, Fig.l2.

Fig. 10 is `a lfragmentary horizontal sec tion' on an enlarged scale, taken'online 10-10. Fig. 1.

Similary characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

The body of the railway car shown in the drawings is an example ofone adapted for use in connection with our'invention and comprises a lower bottom 11, an upper roof 12 and a longitudinalside wall 13 which is provided with a doorway 14 through which the freight or cargo to be transported is introducedvv into the car body and removed therefrom.

On its opposite vertical sides or edgesy this doorway is provided with vertical a'nges 15 which 'projectinwardly therefrom n and whichl are preferably constructed of. metal and secured to the adjacent surfaces of the y.doorway by means of screws 16 or any other suitable manner.

On the bottom or threshold of theV door-- the inner side and the upper section 19 on the outer side with reference to the doorway. These two door sections are capable of sliding vertically with reference to each other so that they can be either extended vertically for the purpose of covering the entire doorway, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, or the lower door section may be left in its lowered position and the upper section moved downwardly for the purpose of providing an opening in the upper part of the doorway through which grain may be lintroduced into the car or the interior of the same ventilated, as shown in Fig. Ll, or the upper section may be left in its used position and the lower section raised, as shown in Fig. 5 for the purpose of opening the lower part of the doorway and permitting grain or like cargoes to escape. Then the lower door section is in its lowerinost position the same engages with the iabbet 17 on the threshold 0f the ldoorway .so as to form a tight joint therewith which will prevent grain or similar material from leaking outwardly at this point. In order to provide a large bearing surface for the lower door section against the rabbet and also to stifi'en and strengthen the same, this end is provided with a horizontal outwardly projecting ange 2O which engages with the threshold over a considerable area and thereby further reduces any liability of the cargo leaking out of the interior of the car atthis point. On its opposite vertical edges the lower door section is provided with vertical outwardly projecting sealing flanges 21 which are adapted to engagebehind the inwardly projecting flanges of the doorway and form a tight joint therewith whereby leakage of grain or similar material between .the lower door section and the car body is positively prevented at this point. In the operative position of the lower car door section its opposite verticaledges engage with the inner edges of the flanges 15 and this together with the flanges 21 on the door engaging behind. the vertical flanges 15 and the lower flanged end on the lower car door section engaging with the iabbet 17 produces a water tight joint'between the lower door section and the car body which effectively excludes the entrance of water, dust and dirt fiom the exterior of the car when the latter is exposed to rain and blowing dust.

Although any suitable means may be provided for` connecting the upper and lower door sections so that the saine are slidable one upon the other, those shown in the drawings have been found satisfactory in praetise and consist of two bolts 2:?, which pass through an opening on the upper door section and through a. vertical slot 23 on the adjacent part of the lower door section and bears with the shoulders at its opposite ends against the upper side of the upper door seetioii and the inner side of the lower door section, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

On the upper parts of the vertical edges of the upper door section the saine is provided with outwardly offset portions'Qd which in the elevated position of this door section engage with the outer sides of iianges 25 arranged on the upper portions ofV the inner edges of the ti'ansvei'seiiaiiges 15 and project therefrom in a direction lengthwise of the car and toward each other, asshown in Figs. 2, 3, el, 5 and S, thereby forming a weather tight joint between the upper door section and the doorway which will effectively exclude rain and dust which may drive against the closure from the exterior of the car and thereby protect the cargo within the same.

Various means may be provided for moving the two door sections vertically one relatively to the other, those shown in the drawings being preferred and consisting of a gear rack 26 arranged on the outer side of the door sections and secured on its upper end with the upper door section, and a gear so that upon turning this pinion one of the e door sections will be moved vertically `relatively to the other. l

The gear rack is preferably guided in` a guideway 28 and the gear pinion 2? is mounted on a. shaft Q9 which is` journaled in suitable bearings on a supporting bracket 30 and provided on its front end with a hand wheel 3l for manipulating the saniewhen the lower door sectionis at its lowered position and resting against the threshold of the doorway and the upper door section is also lowered. as shown in Fig. el, the latter may be raised for fully closing;` the doorway by turningl the hand wheel 31 in the direction of the arrow associated therewith in Fig. 1. If it is desired to raise the lower door section this is accomplished by turning the hand wheel in a direction opposite to the indication of the arrow in Figi'. 1. lnasmuch, however, as the lower door section in the present case is oflconsiderably larger areas and, therefore. heavier it is necessary to provide means for holding the upper door section against vertical movement at this time. This is preferably accomplished bv providing the upper door section with horizontally movable locking belts 32 whichl are adapted to project in opposite Vf lirections from the ends thereof into locking openings 33 in the adjacent vertical edge portions of the doorwayq as shown in FigflO. These means for locking the upper door section against vertical motion are prefer ahljiv so arranged that the upper door section onlv locked in its uppermost position inasmuch as there is no need for raising the lower llO door section at any other time, although if desired additional locking openingsl 33 may be provided on the doorway below the one which 'would retain the upper doorrsection in itsfuppermost position. From thefo'i'egoing it will be seen that the saine shifting mechanism is utilized for either raising the lower door secti-oii or lowering the upper door section, this beingpossible by holding one door section while the other is free to move and turning the geai' pinion 27 in the required direction.

For the purpose of locking the doorsections in whatever position they may be leit't means are provided Vwhich in the present instance comprises a horizontally s lidahle locking bolt 34 adapted to engage with one or another of the teeth of the gear pinion 2T and sliding ina guideway 35 on the outer side of the lower door section and provided with a handle 36 for manipulating' the saine` as best shown' in Figs. l, 2 and 9. Ii it is desired to seal the cai' after it is closed this may be accomplished by means of a sealing lbolt 37 guided on the lower doorl section by means of a bolt 38 on this door sect-ion passing through a slot 39 on the upper part of this bolt, and the lower end of this sealing bolt passing through an. open ing in the locking bolt 34 and adapted to receive a wire seal 40 such as are now coinmonly employed for preventing a lock from being opened by unauthorized part-ies without detection.V Upon removing the seal 40 the sealing'boltl may be raised thereby 1 iberating the locking bolt 34 and permit-ting the gear mechanism to. be operated vtor slid ing the door sections vertically onerelatively to the other for unloading the cargo.

Means areprovided for moving the car door inwardly and outwardly through the doorway so as to permit lthe door' to either extend across the doorway on the. inner side of the car body or to extend across the doorway on the outer side `of the car body and also to permit the door to be moved bodily to one side'vot' the doorway on the outer side of the car body when it is desired -to leave the doorway completely unobstructed for loading or unloading the same with jniclage` freight or similar. commodities. The preferred means for thus mounting the d-oor shown in the drawings are constructed as follows zi i Slidabl-e horizontally and lengthwise of Vthe car on the outer side ot` the side wall 13 is a carriage which preferably hastlie forni of a i'ectangular traine which comprises upper and lower vhorizontal bars 4l, 42.arranged adjacentto the upper and lower edges ot the doorway, yand two upright bars 43 connecting the corresponding lends of the upper and lower bars 4l, 42L and adapted to be arranged adjacent to the vertical edges of the doorway when` the door is closed. n

lowerbar 4270i' the carriage whichis made.

hollow or of channel shaped form in cross' sectionfor this purpose and running on a horizontal track or rail 45 secured to the- .adjacent lower portion of the car body, as

shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, andthe upper bar of the carriage being provided with upwaidly projecting guide lugs 46 which en gageV with a slotted guide bar 47 secured to i `the -body of the car above the door opening,

as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and`5.

Arranged vertically adjacent tothe outer sides ot' the two upright bars 43 of the frame shaped rcarriag e are two upright support-V ingl and guide rods 48 which may be held kin place on this carriage in any suitable manner, for instance by means of brackets 49, 50 and 5l which receive the upper, intermediate and lower parts of eachoftliese guide rods and are secured to the adjacentpai'ts of the carriage, as best shown in F igs.l

l-. Adjacent to the vertical edges of the door the outer side of the saine is connected with the guiding and supporting rods 48 by means otitoggles which aie so constructed that the door may be tilted in such a position relatively to the carriage and doorway so as to be capable of passing through the doorway either inwardly oi' outwardly, assliown in Fig. and also permit the door to be arranged parallel with tlie side wall of the car Y body and extended across the inner side of the doorway, as shown in Fig. 6 and also .enable the door to be arranged in a position f parallel with the side wall of the cai body and either remain in a position.extending` across the outer side of the doorway, or to beshitted into a position on one side of the doorway, as shown `in Fig. 7. In the preferred construction the dooi-is supported l adjacent to each of its vertical edges on one ofthe supporting rods by means of two toggles and these toggles are preferably coiivn'eeted only with the lower Adoor section so thatfthe upper door section is supported indirectly upon the supporting'and guide rods 48.V Each ofthese toggles consist of Aa pair .of links consisting ot' an outer link 52 and an inner link 53, the opposing ends ot' which are pivotally connected to each. other by means ota vertical vpintle 54 and the outer extremity of the outer link 52 being mounted on the adjacent guide iod 48 so as to be t'ree to turn thereon .and also to slide vertically relatively thereto while the inner link `53 is `pivotally connected atv its inner extremity'` by iiieans ota vertical pivot pin 55 on the Vbrackets 5G on the adjacent part of the outer side ot the lower door section. `lVheii the car. door is in its innerA operative position acrossfthe inner side of the doorway,

las shown =in fFig. 6 vthe inner link Aof each :pair-'of togglesvis arranged in a position 'transverselypf' the length vof the car andthe 'outer links incline inwardly, :butwhen the lca'rfdoor is on the outer side ofthe ear body. as -shown in lFigjT the inner links' are also larrangedtransversely but the outer links Alare inclined outwardly. Vheniit is desired 'to pass the door eit'he'r inwardly or routwardly through the doorway the `links 'of v`the several 'toggles are'so manipulated that the-'door asa whole is'held or shifted into I:xn-angular position horizontally relative to -th'e door opening so as to permit of passing the same endwise'through the-dooropening, thisfbeing necessary owing to the fact that fthe Iwidthof the door is lgreater lthan the v'width' 'of the doorway. The manner -i'n iwhich this is 4-accomplished'is shown in Fig. 12`in1whi'ch the toggle at the left hand of the "door Viseext'ended or unfolded to agreater ex- "tent-and the links of thetoggle at the right handendof the 'dooris doubled orfolded -ilpon itself to a" relatively greater extent, thereby -adapting'the position of the links of fthe toggles'to the requiredposition in order t'o'en'able the'door to be canted or assuinesuch "anangular '/,position' as vwill permit the same lrobe passed either inwardly or outwardly thro'u'gh'the doorway preparatory to again Fsliding the door into a position in which "thesa'me is arranged lengthwise ofthe car forleither renga ging the ysame withtheV inner 'sideof the doorway orsarranging'the same in a corresponding position on the outer -side of the doorway.

AMeans are provided v'for lifting the door 4bodilyso that the lower edge of the lower 'door section will -be clear of the'threshold l*and* thereby enable the door to be moved "freelyinto' and out ofthe car withoutdragging-'over thethreshold and also'to sustain lthe door in this position when thesame is outside/of the lcar and being moved lengthwise along the side wall thereof. Meansfor purpose preferably comprise v'two adjusting screw v'nuts y57 arranged on the lower screw threaded parts of the supporting rods 48 and two spacing 'or supporting vsleeves 58 `cach surrounding the lowerpart of lone of the"supporting'rods-48 and bearing with its lowerend against the respective screw nut '57 while its upper end engages with the under sideof the outer link 52 ofthe ad- Ajacenttoggle7 as shown in Figsjl, 8, 'Ll Vand `When it is desired to liftfthe door suf* 'liciently'to disengagethe lower end of the lower door sectionfrom the threshold in the doorway the screw nuts i'are turned' in the proper direction for cz'iusing the'same to move upwardly which movement is transmitted successively by the supporting sleeves 5S and lower 'toggles through the lower` door section and parts mounted thereon whereby the door will be maintained in this position :1n-Gammo atfth'etime when thesame isanove'dinto'and out of therear and also Iwhile `the same vis being moved lengthwrseoflthe `car :on the louter sidethereof` fteirthe door-has'heen -moved vinwardly through the ldoorway land f assumed its properlparallel position Vacross 'the inner side 'of thevdoorway and in '-'en gagement with lthe sealing flanges 115,15, thenthescrew nuts 57 are 'turned inthere- Vverse direction and 'causethesame' tol-descend f 'and therebyv permitthe lower door section'to drop by gravity and engage'its lower 'edge 'with the rabbet' lT- of the thresholdandform the tight -joint therewith. Y

When moving the carriage lengthwisefof 'theV car body into ra position in which the same -stands in Afront f of' the Vdoorway where the door can `be moved inwardly Aand outwardly through the doorway vthe'movement of the lcarriage in this direct-ionvis limited 'by means of va stop i60fwhich Ais se'curedto the adjacent parto'ftheside wallll in position to be engaged by the frontend of the-ear- 'riagev as shown in Figs Qand 6.

Then the door is moved outwardly "beyond the outer side ofthe vcar side wall 13 and into a position for moving'flengthwi-se of this wall with the carriage, thefoutwardly projecting flanges 21 'on the door engage with 'inwardly pro]ectmg "flanges 559 :on the ing the doorway wholly, or 'partly opening the same 'either 'at the' top or 'the/bottom' is reliable andeffective init-s' operation and not only permits of securely closing thecar so .as to vrender the vsame leak-proof but also lpermits of readily'loading and unloading a car either `with "a cargo of loose :material such as grain, package or similar material. "This can be accomplished without liability v4of 'destroying i or injuring 'l any of 'the jparts or 'necessitating vfrequent renewals or re- 'pairments'as has beenthe custom heretofore 'thereby effecting a considerableeconomy in the operation and `mainte-nance ofcar doors when shipping materials of thiseharacter.

We claim as our invention:

1. A closure for a railway car having a 'doorway` `comprising a 'carriage mounted'for lengthwise movement on theiexterior of the can-a door `for closing said doorway. and

means for mounting-said door lon said lcar- 'riage and constructed to'p'ermit of moving sai d door inwardly and outwardly through said doorwayv and pressing said doorout- 'wardly against'theinner side ofthe car wall.

2. 'A closure for a railwaycar havinga finie doorway, comprising a carriage mounted for lengthwise movement on the exterior of the car, a door for closing said doorway, and means including a plurality of toggles for 'mounting said door on said carriage and lengthwise movement on the exterior of the oar, a door for closing said doorway, and means kfor mounting said door on said carriage and constructed to permit of moving said door inwardly and outwardly through said doorway and pressing said `door outwardly against the inner side of the car wall comprising supports arranged on said carriage at opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of -toggles each having a pair of links which have their opposing ends pivotally connected with each other and their extremities pivotally connected with said door and said supports.

4. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising a carriage mounted for lengthwise movement on the exterior of the car, a door for closingv said doorway, and means for mounting said door on said c arriage and constructed to permit of moving said door inwardly and outwardly through said doorway and pressing said door outwardly against the inner side of the car wall comprising upright pivot rods arranged at opposite ends of said carriage, and a plurality of toggles each consisting of a pair of links which are pivotally connected with each other and the outer member of' each pair being capable of turning and slidingon oner of said rods and the inner inemberofv each pair being pivoted on the adjacent end of the door.

5. A closure for a railway ear having a doorway, comprising a carriage mounted for lengthwise movement on the exterior of' the car, a door for closing .said doorway, and means for mounting said door on said carriage and constructed to permit of moving said door inwardly and outwardly through said doorway comprising upright pivot'rods arranged at opposite ends ofl said carriage, and a plurality ot tog-gies each consisting of a pair of links which are pivotally connect-V ed with each other and the outer member of each pair being capable of turning and sliding on one of said rods and the inner'member olf each pair being pivoted on the adjacent end of the door, and means for supporting the door in various vertical'positions relatively to said carriage. n

6. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising a carriage mounted ,for lengthwise movement on the exterior of the car, a door for closing said doorway, and

means for mounting said door o n said carriage and'constructed to permit of moving, said door inwardly and outwardly through said doorway comprising upright pivot rods arranged at opposite ends ot said carriage, and a plurality of toggles each consisting of a pair of links which are pivotally connected with each other and the outer member of each pair being capable of turning and sliding on one of said rods and the inner memb-er of each pair being pivoted on the adjacent end of the door, and means for supporting the door in various vertical positions relatively to said carriage comprising screw nuts arranged on lsaid pivot rods, and supporting sleeves mounted onsaid rods between said screw nuts and the outer links of the adjacent toggles.,

7. A closure for a railway car having a doorway and projecting inwardly therefrom, a carriage mounted for lengthwise movement on the exterior of the car, a door having outwardly projecting vertical flanges at its opposite vertical edges adapted to engage' behind said flanges of the Y doorway, and means for mounting saiddoor on said carriage so asto permit the saine to move through said doorway.

8. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising vertical flanges arranged at opposite vertical edges of `the doorway and projecting inwardly therefrom and an outwardly facing rabbet on the thresholdof said doorway, a door adapted to engage its lower end with said rabbet and provided at its opposite vertical edges with outwardly projecting flanges adapted to engage behind said flanges on the doorway, a

carriage mounted for lengthwise movement on the exterior ofthe car, and means for mounting said door onsaid car which permit said door tomove inwardly and outwa'rdlythrough said doorway and also en- V'able said door to move toward and from said rabbet.

9. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising a door adapted to engage with the inner side of the car, a frame shaped carriage which is mounted on the exterior of' the car so as to be capable of longitudinal movement thereon, and means for mounting said door on said carriage.

lO. A carriage for a railway car havinga doorway, a door having upper and lower sections which vare slidable vertically relatively to each other, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of the oar, and means for movably mounting said door on said carriage.

l1. A carriage for a railway car having a doorway, a door having upper andL lower sections which are slidable vertically relatively to each other, a carriage mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of the car, means for movaloly mounting said door on said carriage, a gear rack on one et said door sections, and a gear pinion mounted on the other door section and meshing with said rack.

l2. A carriage for a railway car having a doorway, a door having upper and lower sections which are slidahle vertically relatively to e ch other, a carriage mounted tor longitudinal movement on the exterior of he car, means for inovahly mounting said iloor on said carriage, and means "for locking said sections against vertical movement.

13. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising 'a 'trame shaped carriage mounted lor longitudinal movement on the exterior of said car, a door having upper and lower sections which are slidahle vertically relatively to each other, means for mounting one or' said door sections for vertical movement on said carriage, and means for locking the other door section against vertical movement relative to said car.

i4. A closure vfor a railway ar having a doorway, comprising a Yiframe shaped carriage mounted for longitudinal movement on the exteriorot said car, a door having upper and lower sections which are slidable vertically relatively to each other, means for mounting one ot said door sections tor vertical movement on said carriage, and means Vfor locking the other door section against vertical movement relative to said car, comprising horizontally sliding locking bolts mounted on said last mentioned door section and engagingI said car.

l5. A closure for a railway carhaving a doorway, comprising a trame shaped carriage mounted yfor longitudinal movement on the exterior ot' said car, a' door having upper and lower sections which are slidable vertically relatively to each other, means for mounting'one of saidfdoor sections for vertical movement-on said carriage, means for locking the other door section against vertical movement relative to said car, and means for moving the door sections vertically relatively to each other.

1G. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising a 'frame shaped carriage mounted for longitudinal movement on the exterior of 'said car, and a door adapted to extend acrosssaid doorway and mounted on said carriage for vertical movement thereon.

17. A closure for a railway car having a doorway, comprising vvertical transverse flanges arranged/at opposite vertical sides of the doorway, vertical longitudinal llanges arri nged on the upper parts of said transverse flanges and projecting toward each other, and a door having a lower section adapted to engage withthe inner sides of said transverse flanges and anupper section adapted to engage with the outer side of said longitudinal flanges.

1S. A closure for a. railway car having a doorway, comprising vertical transverse flanges arranged at opposite vertical sides of the doorway, vertical longitudinal flanges arranged on the lupper part-s of said transverse flanges and projecting toward each other, a door having a lower section adapted to engage with the inner sides of said transverse flanges and an upperV section adapted to engage with the outer side of said longitudinal flanges, a carriage mounted on the exterior ot the cai-'for longitudinal movement thereon, and means Vfor connecting said door with said frame and permitting the same to loe moved through said doorway.

In testimony whereof we atiix our signatures. y

EDWARD M. lSENFTLE. FRANK ECKERT. 

